rand's esoteric otr

Columbia Demonstration Record

Finally, here’s a fascinating rare little find - an early to mid-30s demonstration disc for stations, advertising inexpensive syndicated series they could obtain on Columbia Royal Blue transcriptions.

An unidentified announcer is heard introducing each selection and reminding the listener of the high quality of the programs and the transcriptions.  On side one of the disc, we hear excerpts from “Pick & Pat Minstrels” and “Reminiscences of Victor Herbert”.  On side two are excerpts from “Viennese Nights” and “Omar, the Wizard of Persia”.

Our mp3 was transferred from an original 12” Royal Blue laminated Columbia pressing, matrix numbers 230610 and 230611, running at 33 1/3 rpm and playing inside-out.  This appears to be a previously lost little piece of radio memorabilia.  Unfortunately, the brochure that accompanied the disc is long gone.

Anyone know if the particular episodes of the series heard in the demo survive in their complete form?

Coleman Cox - Pgm 12

Following up on our previous post, here’s program 12 in the “Coleman Cox” series.  The announcer is probably Hal Dean and the first bit of philosophy is “If you need it, really want, have the money, and can spare it, go and buy it. It is not that which you deny yourself, but what you buy yourself.”

The show was dubbed to digital from a ten inch MacGregor & Sollie Recording Laboratories laminated disc pressed by Columbia, matrix number MS-1312.  The disc runs at 33 1/3 rpm and plays inside-out.

Coleman Cox - Pgm 11

In this post and the next, two shows in an odd little series of syndicated five minute programs by “Coleman Cox”.

My research hasn’t turned up much about Cox, except that he was an author from California that published in the 1920s.  At JJ’s radio logs site, he pops up in the 1934-35 New York Times and Los Angeles radio listings.  On WJZ, he was listed as a “Philosopher”.

And that appears to be what Coleman Cox is doing here in program 11.  After the show introduction, describing Cox as “the kindly philosopher who smiles as he talks”, Cox offers little bits of wisdom, such as “You’re well dressed when no-one can remember anything you’re wearing”.  Each little bit is separated by a bell.  Oddly, the theme song is “Jingle Bells”.  The announcer sounds like Hal Dean, heard on the Curtis Springer transcriptions I posted on the blog awhile back.

Our mp3 was directly digitized from a ten inch MacGregor & Sollie Recording Laboratories laminated 33 1/3 rpm disc pressed by Columbia, matrix number MS-1311.  The disc plays from inside-out.

In the next post - the other side of the disc.

Louie’s Hungry Five - Pgm 319 - October 21, 1931

Now we reach the end of our twenty episode run of “Louie’s Hungry Five”, an early radio comedy serial about the “little German band” syndicated by WGN-The Tribune Company.  It’s been a pleasure to offer this programs on the blog with the rarely seen original cue sheets - the 78 rpm transcriptions are in excellent shape for this seldom heard program.

Program 319 was originally heard on October 21, 1931.  Louie and the band are on the train and have almost arrived in New York.  You can look at the original local announcer’s cue sheet for the program as a jpeg here.

Our mp3 was transferred from a set of two 12” laminated shellac 78 rpm transcriptions pressed by the Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division, matrix numbers 233302 and 233303.

I really enjoyed transferring the shows - I hope you found it interesting to have this brief glimpse into early radio.

 

Louie’s Hungry Five - Pgm 318 - October 20, 1931

Here’s our next-to-last visit with the “little German band” with another episode in “Louie’s Hungry Five”, syndicated by WGN-The Tribune Company.

Program 318 was originally heard October 20, 1931.  Louie and Emil are figuring out how to deal with how to sleep on the train as they head to New York for their trip to South America.  You can look at the original local announcer’s cue sheet for the program as a jpeg here.

Our mp3 was transferred from a set of two 12” laminated shellac 78 rpm transcriptions pressed by the Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division, matrix numbers 233300 and 233301.

 

Rhapsody in Rhythm - Pgm 2

It’s been awhile since I posted a Transco program.  The company syndicated several shows in the early 30s, particularly of great jazz and popular music performances.

In this post, we hear program two in the series, “Rhapsody in Rhythm”, featuring Charles W. Hamp and the Rhythm Rascals.  (I posted program one from the other side of the disc a few years ago in the blog.)  The first song is “And Still No Luck With You”, played by the Rhythm Rascals.

I wish I could run into these Transco discs more often.

Our mp3 transfer is direct from blue laminated Radio Transcription Company (Transco) transcription, matrix number A-2569.

Louie’s Hungry Five - Pgm 317 - October 19, 1931

 

We’re nearing the end of our consecutive twenty episode run of the early radio comedy serial about the “little German band”, “Louie’s Hungry Five”, syndicated by WGN-The Tribune Company, Chicago.

Program 317 was originally broadcast on October 19, 1931.  The band finally boards the train for New York.  You can download the original cue sheet for the local announcer here.

Our mp3 was transferred from a set of two 12” laminated shellac 78 rpm transcriptions pressed by the Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division, matrix numbers 233298 and 233299.

Louie’s Hungry Five - Pgm 316 - October 17, 1931

 

Only a few more episodes are left in our consecutive twenty episode run of the early radio comedy serial, “Louie’s Hungry Five”, syndicated by WGN-The Tribune Company, Chicago.

Program 316 was originally heard October 17, 1931.  Louie talks with the hotel clerk about their reason for going to South America - an invention that will let them go into the cocoanut ice cream pie business.  You can download the original local announcer’s cue sheet here.

Our mp3 was transferred from a set of two 12” laminated shellac 78 rpm transcriptions pressed by the Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division, matrix numbers 233296 and 233297.

Louie’s Hungry Five - Pgm 315 - October 16, 1931

We only have a few more shows in our run of twenty consecutive episodes of the early syndicated comedy serial, “Louie’s Hungry Five”, originating with WGN, the Tribune Company, in Chicago.

Program 315 was originally heard October 16, 1931.  The group is still planning their trip to South America.  In this episode, Emil and the other members of the group talk with Louie about him leaving them to face Louie’s girlfriend, Julia, when she was angry at Louie.  You can see the original local announcer’s cue sheet for the program here.

Our mp3 was transferred from a set of two 12” laminated shellac 78 rpm transcriptions pressed by the Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division, matrix numbers 233294 and 233295.

Louie’s Hungry Five - October 15, 1931 - Pgm 314

Let’s join the “little German band” once again in “Louie’s Hungry Five”, an early syndicated comedy serial from WGN-The Tribune Company.

Program 314 was originally broadcast October 15, 1931.  Louie is mad at Emil because he has mixed up things between Louie and his girlfriend, Julia.  To cheer up Louie, the band plays a wonderful version of “The Peanut Vendor”.  You can download the original local announcer's cue sheet for the episode here.

Our program was digitized from two original 12” shellac Columbia Sound-On-Disc Division 78 rpm transcriptions, matrix numbers 233292 and 2933293.